View Full Version : To Fuel Stabilzer or not to?
Hi
Its my first winter with a bike and am not sure wether or not to add fuel stabilzer or not. I am planning on ridding my bike as much as possible through the winter, but as soon as the ice and snow comes back I shall be parking it up. Any advice on winter storage would be greatly appricated. I already have paddock stands to lift the tyres off the ground.
Thanks in advance.
Ed
Ride Safe
Just fill the tank and it will be fine.
-Ralph-
13-12-10, 11:31 AM
Loads of threads on the subject of winterising your bike. Do a search. Fuel stabiliser not necessary unless you are talking 6 months or more IMO.
andrewsmith
14-12-10, 05:29 PM
If your putting the bike up for more than about 4 weeks it'll be best to stabilize the fuel as it'll gumm up and have the bike running rough.
and the recent thread on winter prep: http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?t=159059
-Ralph-
14-12-10, 05:42 PM
If your putting the bike up for more than about 4 weeks it'll be best to stabilize the fuel as it'll gumm up and have the bike running rough
Can you post some science to back that up please? Remembering that all modern fuels now already contain additives at the pump.
andrewsmith
14-12-10, 06:00 PM
Can you post some science to back that up please? Remembering that all modern fuels now already contain additives at the pump.
Nope but have had the SV run like a bag of S***e after standing for 6 weeks. Also it does seem to vary bike to bike as my mate never has had to just put a dot of reddex in for the first run. Rust in a (unsealed) tank can react with fuel
Modern fuels do contain alot of additives, but on the most part they are for the BS EN 228 and low sulphur rules.
-Ralph-
14-12-10, 06:00 PM
BTW, the Department for Transport will be revising it's advice on fuel storage, for the introduction of 10% bio-ethanol in 2013, and saying you need a separate stabiliser additive for any storage period longer than 6 months.
andrewsmith
14-12-10, 06:06 PM
BTW, the Department for Transport will be revising it's advice on fuel storage, for the introduction of 10% bio-ethanol in 2013, and saying you need a separate stabiliser additive for any storage period longer than 6 months.
right! That will be because ethanol rots engine components. Voila what happened when it got in the system http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/6405051.stm
But that'll also mean Carby Vehicles may require modifications to run on this std fuel.
-Ralph-
14-12-10, 06:10 PM
Nope but have had the SV run like a bag of S***e after standing for 6 weeks. Also it does seem to vary bike to bike as my mate never has had to just put a dot of reddex in for the first run. Rust in a (unsealed) tank can react with fuel
Modern fuels do contain alot of additives, but on the most part they are for the BS EN 228 and low sulphur rules.
It will vary from bike to bike as a some are carbed with a float bowl and some are fuel injected with a pump, but it's not common to be seeing issues after 6 weeks. I usually have two bikes so one or the other can regularly go six weeks without running, also never had problems with my cousins bike when garaging it for him 6 months a time whilst he was abroad. No probs with the lawn mower after winter, or the likes of petrol hedge trimmers, chainsaws, etc.
With rust in the tank, that's why you want to fill the fuel tank to the brim. If there is no oxygen in there the tank can't rust, and the fuel stability will be a lot longer. The DfT say modern fuels should last indefinitely if stored in an airtight container.
-Ralph-
14-12-10, 06:16 PM
right! That will be because ethanol rots engine components. Voila what happened when it got in the system http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/6405051.stm
But that'll also mean Carby Vehicles may require modifications to run on this std fuel.
Correct, but it's acidity gets worse when you store it for any length of time.
-Ralph-
14-12-10, 06:19 PM
It's off topic now, but read this http://www.fbhvc.co.uk/bio-fuels/
I'm with Ralph regards not using the bike for a few weeks or so, just fill it up.
If it's FI it should run absolutely fine on bulk stored fuel (i.e. a tankful) after a month or 2. If it's carbs I would always drain the carbs, preferably when laying it up but certainly before running it again. Problems can arise simply by the use of inappropriate seasonal fuel, if your tank is full of summer fuel it can still be difficult to start in cold weather.
Personally I would always drain carbs on garden equipment too, I do quite good business in Spring when people can't start their mowers. I always do an oil change on them to make it worth my while visiting and give the customer "value for money", but essentially it's a couple of minutes to drain the carb and refill with fresh fuel, clean the plug and presto.
Petrol is allowed to contain (IIRC) 5% oxygenates (i.e. alcohols) anyway, materials used in any reasonably modern vehicle will be OK with 5-10% blends though different materials are definitely used for high (85 etc) ratio alcohol blends.
I'm no expert but have on various occassions and different bikes had them laid up for months at a time. Never had a problem with running issues, or even starting issues. This has included a bike off the road for 6 months during the summer period and about the same again for another bike through the winter.
andrewsmith
14-12-10, 07:27 PM
It's off topic now, but read this http://www.fbhvc.co.uk/bio-fuels/
It well wide of the OP now! That is a good read, but my concerns with ethanol and Jap Carby bikes may be valid
STUDY INTO MATERIAL COMPATIBILITY AND CARBURETTOR ICING
An investigation was commissioned in the summer of 2010 by the DfT, and undertaken by Stephen Wall, Senior Scientist at the Fuels and Lubricants Centre, QinetiQ, based in Farnborough, to investigate the effects of petrol containing up to 10% ethanol. Specifically this investigated vehicle fuel system material compatibility and carburettor icing as well as other aspects such as drivability issues.
The FBHVC submitted a great deal of evidence as well as statistics on the size and economic effect of the historic vehicle movement in the UK.
The report was finished in October 2010 and is due to be in the public domain at the end of October. Early indications suggest that the situation is extremely worrying for any vehicle over ten years old.
-Ralph-
14-12-10, 07:46 PM
Worth remembering the FBHVC have an agenda to pursue.
andrewsmith
14-12-10, 07:48 PM
Worth remembering the FBHVC have an agenda to pursue.
Beards and pipes. Cursing the day 4 star was abolished
-Ralph-
14-12-10, 08:54 PM
Beards and pipes. Cursing the day 4 star was abolished
The guy who send me that link doesn't have a beard or pipe, but he is in his 70's and mixes his own leaded petrol for his Tiger Cub and his AJS.
Amazing guy though, hope I'm still riding bikes at his age :-)
EDIT: Though I do often wish he'd stuck to fettling bikes and never bought a computer!
I've run my Tiger Cub on unleaded for years with no issues. Leaded fuel causes as many problems as it cures. Exhaust valve seat wear is highly speed dependent, and you can't rev a Tiger Cub engine high enough for long enough for it to be an issue (it'll eat a big-end long before the seat wears!) :p
-Ralph-
14-12-10, 11:09 PM
I've run my Tiger Cub on unleaded for years with no issues. Leaded fuel causes as many problems as it cures. Exhaust valve seat wear is highly speed dependent, and you can't rev a Tiger Cub engine high enough for long enough for it to be an issue (it'll eat a big-end long before the seat wears!) :p
If you want I'm very happy to put you in touch with the gentleman concerned and let you try and argue that one. If he's happy with his leaded petrol, I'm leaving the subject well alone ;)
Err, no thanks, too busy.
(Phew, that was close!)
Thanks for all the advice, I think I'll fill the tank and risk it?
andrewsmith
15-12-10, 09:28 PM
Thanks for all the advice, I think I'll fill the tank and risk it?
Apologies for the Hijack, just the E10 issue is one for the future
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